Misconceptions and Inappropriate Solid

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r DOI: 10.4172/2252-5211.1000324

n I ISSN: 2252-5211 of Waste Resources ResearchResearch Article Article OpenOpen Access Access Misconceptions and Inappropriate Solid Waste Management in Small Towns of Ethiopia: Bule Hora Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia Adane Sirage Ali* Kotebe Metropolitan University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Solid waste challenge in developing countries, like Ethiopia, is aggravated by the malfunctioning of traditional waste management systems due to rapid development and the alarmingly increasing human population. Bule Hora Town, in Ethiopia, is among the most environmentally degraded environment due to the inappropriate traditional solid waste management system. Therefore, this study was intended to investigate the public awareness and concern to the ever worsening environmental pollution and why the traditional waste disposal systems can stay dominant in the town. Data were collected using door-to-door close-ended questionnaire by a simple random sampling technique. The findings showed that plastics and festal; fruits, chat leaves and vegetables; and metals and cans respectively made 48(+5)%, 18 (+2)% and 11 (+3)% of the solid waste pool. Variations in the awareness and concern to various environmental degradation among different age groups was clearly seen where people under the age of forty showed better understanding. Response findings showed that the dominant solid waste disposal system is open air burning (42%) followed by open field dumping (36%) showing that the current solid waste management systems is traditional and inappropriate. Moreover, 50% of the respondent above age 40 and 30% of the respondents below age 40 believe that open solid waste burning is a good and long stayed tradition; and it is also undeniable that 35% of the older people related burning of solid waste, particularly during the month of December, has a religion background, which actually is not.

Keywords: Bule hora; Solid waste management; Environment; Waste of the society, seems to be right and appropriate. This study is, therefore, disposal; Waste burning intended to investigate the status of the public concern and awareness to their current solid waste management practices. Introduction Materials and Methods Waste problems are said to be the mirror of a society [1]. The state of a society is closely related to its economic, historical, cultural, Description of study area environmental and other aspects. Solid waste problem in developing The study would be conducted in Bule Hora Town, the countries, like Ethiopia, is aggravated by the malfunctioning of administration center of Bule Hora District. It is located 467 km south traditional waste management systems due to rapid development and of Addis Ababa, and lies between 5°35’ and 5°63’N latitude and 38°15’ the alarmingly increasing human population. Understanding the state and 38°25’ longitude and on altitude of 1893 m.a.s.l. it is paved Addis of a society therefore, provides a direction to an understanding of the Ababa Moyale highway, in the Borena Zone of Oromia Region. The waste problems in that particular society [1]. Conversely, it is possible town is among the most important smugglers transition zone where to understand the state of a society by looking at its waste problems. contraband items transfer from Kenya to Ethiopia. In many towns of Ethiopia, urbanization is increasing at a faster The population in the town is alarmingly increasing. The population rate ever in the history of the country, which puts an immense pressure was 12,718,22784 and 35,256 respectively. It is the most populated 907 on municipal services [2]. The rapid urbanization and an increasing people per km², compared to 21.1 people per km² of the overall Borena consumerism behavior with traditional way of waste disposal resulted Zone. in serious challenges. This waste is not being adequately managed because of lack of concern, financial constraint and less priority; as a Sampling design consequence it has created a serious negative externalities on human and environmental health. Data sources and the required data type: All required data were collected both from primary and secondary sources. The primary Waste disposal in Bule Hora Town seems up to the individual households and usually people burn plastics, tires, old clothes and others in the street, around their house, and in any open spaces. The *Corresponding author: Adane Sirage Ali, Kotebe Metropolitan University, Sub smoke from such burning activity is extremely offensive and probably City Wo. 11, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tel: +251-911149050; Fax: +251-911149050; is causing serious human health problems. Plastics and pieces of E-mail: [email protected] materials scattered everywhere on the surface or partly buried in the Received January 12, 2018; Accepted January 27, 2018; Published February dust together with dusty nature of the area apparently caused complete 03, 2018 loss of aesthetics. The population is growing rapidly and it is clear that Citation: Ali AS (2018) Misconceptions and Inappropriate Solid Waste Management the amount of waste precipitate is also rapidly growing, which implies in Small Towns of Ethiopia: Bule Hora Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Int J Waste that the challenge would be worsened sooner than later. However, Resour 8: 324. doi: 10.4172/2252-5211.1000324 the awareness and concern to the environmental degradation due to Copyright: © 2018 Ali AS. This is an open-access article distributed under the inappropriate solid waste management could not demand the growing terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted solid waste generation. The present solid waste management, in the eye use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Int J Waste Resour, an open access journal ISSN: 2252-5211 Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000324 Citation: Ali AS (2018) Misconceptions and Inappropriate Solid Waste Management in Small Towns of Ethiopia: Bule Hora Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Int J Waste Resour 8: 324. doi: 10.4172/2252-5211.1000324

Page 2 of 4 data were collected from sampled households, commercial houses, solid waste burning. The data collected onsite by sorting identification restaurants and hotels. Whilst secondary data were collected through and weighing of the solid waste were used to evaluate solid waste thorough review of all available published and unpublished documents composition/proportion. from relevant organizations. Results and Discussion In the town, there is no defined land use system, instead all are found mixed together in one basket: hotels, chat selling shops, shopping Solid waste composition centers, restaurants and small markets are scattered everywhere The dominant components of solid waste in the town, from mixed together with the residential houses. The sampling frame was repeatedly sampling, were plastics and packaging, leftover foods, old determined in such a way that different land uses in the two were clothes and shoes, pieces of metals and fruits, leaves and vegetables. incorporated. Plastics and festal; fruits, chat leaves and vegetables; and metals and Sampling techniques and data collection: The sampling units cans respectively make up 48(±5)%, 18 (±2)% and 11 (±3)% of the solid were divided into non-overlapping groups resulting in representative waste pool (Figure 1A). Majority of the solid waste was found to be samples. Sampling points were selected using simple random sampling non-biodegradable (64 ± 10%) whereas about 4% of the solid wastes technique. After selecting the sampling points/sites, the data were are identified as hazardous, which most of them are obsolete electronic collected door to door and directly from the damping sites. devices and household appliances (Figure 1B). Majority of the non- biodegradables are mainly composed of plastics used for packaging The data collection was done using checklists which were pre-tested and as containers as the area is the center of border smugglers. About prior to the actual field work. The data on solid waste composition and 32% of the solid wastes are biodegradables, mainly composed of leaves quantity were collected by direction site solid waste analysis method and leftover foods. According to Gardner [4], composting is an ancient and close-ended questionnaire survey from the open dumping site practice where more cities in the world now aday are reclaiming the and garden collection sites. The structured questionnaire was used for benefits of reusing solid organic waste material. However, in Bule Hora, the selected households to generate information about their pollution it is hard see people engaged in such kind of practice. awareness, housing conditions, solid waste handling, solid waste disposal practices and their perception about the common solid waste Solid waste disposal systems burning practices. The most common solid waste disposal mechanisms identified were The onsite determination of the solid waste composition and open field disposal, waste collectors, open air burning in their garden quantification included sorting, identification and weighing of the and arbitrary throwing. Of which, open air burning (42%) followed by sorted solid wastes. The weight of the solid waste generated was surface disposal (36%), which later will be burnt, were found to be the measured at source by using portable scales. For statistical accuracy most common solid waste disposal practices in the town (Figure 2). large and frequent samples were taken from randomly selected Only 14% percent of the respondents collect solid wastes at home and sampling points in the sampling frame. give to waste collectors; whereas about 8% of the respondents throw solid and liquid waste arbitrary to their surroundings (Figure 2). It is Sample size determination: The heterogeneous sampling sites in clear to see that about 78% of the solid waste is managed by burning. the sampling frame consisted of a total of 1000 housing units. Sample Such kind of improper practiceis very common solid waste disposal size (n) of households that participate was determined by using a mechanism in many developing countries around the world [5]. sample technique [3] formula, given by: However, open air burning of solid waste has serious human and NZ2 PQ n = environmental health consequences. Even those solid wastes seemingly d22( N−+ 1) Z PQ harmless like paper, cardboard, yard waste, and construction debris releases a hazardous mixture of cancer-causing compounds and other Where: N= total number of housing unit toxic substances when open-burned [6]. Pollutants from solid waste Z=standardized normal variable and value that corresponding to burning vary depending on the type of waste materials burned but, typical emissions with high health risk include dioxins, ash, furans, 95%.CI=1.96 halogenated hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, lead, barium, chromium, P=housing unit interval (% of residential houses out of N) cadmium, arsenic or mercury, acid vapours and carcinogenic tars [6,7]. Because of its hazard, in many nations around the world, particularly in Q=1-P (nonresidential houses, which is (1-p)% N) developed world, solid waste open air burning is prohibited except for d²=allowable error (0.05) few non-hazardous wastes below the WHO standards. Therefore, the result, n=304 was the minimum reliable sample In the study area, probably everywhere in developing countries, size of housing units while six housing units were added to extend the majority of the respondents say "We've been burning garbage for ages, confidence. After this, simple random sampling was used. so what's the big deal now?”. Data Analysis The root causes of solid waste challenge Solid waste pollution is the most remarkable type of environmental Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary pollution in the town. About 42% and 20% of the respondents believe and secondary sources. The data generated using the questionnaire that lack of awareness and lack of opportunity are respectively are the were organized and coded to investigate the means of solid waste major causes of environmental pollution (Figure 3). Associated with lack disposal andthe public awareness about the serious challenges of solid of awareness, many people recklessly pollute their own environment. waste pollution. The questionnaires were also used to unveil the root The respondents also believe an increasing population number and the causes of the misconception about the deep-rooted culture of open air

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enough knowledge) which may be due to the fact that soil pollution is Composition (%) l earins ters most outwardly visible and easily recognizable type of pollution. lectronics The lowest awareness to air pollution may be attributable to the less visibility and many people, particularly illiterate parts of the society, eftoer foos think that everything released to the atmosphere does not have a chance to come back and hence never affect whatever on the ground. lastics etals festals an an B In fact this is absolutely wrong understanding which has undisputable oter A cans acains impact on the environment. Public awareness and attitudes about waste ruits leaes an can affect the whole solid waste management systems [8]. eetales Public concern to current environmental degradation Figure 1: Solid waste composition by weight (%). The concern (feeling of responsibility) of the people towards the increasing environmental degradation in the town was examined. The two categories of the society (ages above 40 and under 40) showed incredible discrepancies regarding their concern to environmental pollution and its consequences. Respondents under the age of forty generally are concerned about the loss of environmental quality, environmental pollution and its impacts on human health (Figure 5). However, people above the age of forty showed low concern to environmental pollution and its consequences except that 36.5% are concerned to human health problems. The high feeling of responsibility and concern of the people towards the current environmental degradation under forty years may be due to the fact that this population group has got better formal /informal education. Moreover, they have better exposure to media and communication [9]. Why solid waste burning is more common?

Figure 2: Solid waste disposal systems by percentile. Solid waste disposal by burning has long tradition in Ethiopia. Although the practice has a sort of decline in the present era, in few cities of the country, collecting solid waste for a long time and burning, Casuses of pollution predominantly during the month of December, is the most common practice in all towns of the country including the capital city, Addis Ababa. In Bule Hora Town, it is not different. What is special in Bule Hora is that open air burning of all types of solid wastes in every Lack of awareness parts of the town is a day to day activity. For the respondents under Lack of opportunity the age of forty (40%), people burn everything as a means of disposal system mainly because of the lack of appropriate knowledge about Increased population environmental pollution and the bad traditional fixation (30%) (Figure Ignorance/carelessness 6). This may be due to the fact that people have better awareness about environment and better level of education. However, for many people Lack of man power above the age of forty, the main reason for open air burning of wastes, Lack of transport particularly during the month of December is due to the long standing tradition (50%), but for 35% of the respondents, in fact the practice has religion attributes and hence, it is a mandatory practice, which in fact Figure 3: Public responses to the causes of solid waste pollution. has no religion bases their belief (Figure 6). high density considerably contribute to the environmental degradation. However, only few people believe that lack of man power (7%) and transport (6%) could be the reason for the current environmental ulic aareness to enironental eraation 70 pollution (Figure 3). 60 50 s Public awareness to environmental degradation t

n 40 e

Awareness of the community regarding their knowledge about the o n 20 s environment, air pollution, water pollution and soil/land pollution were e 10 R 0 examined. The response (according to the scales given: scores >50% = Knowledge of Water Soil/land Air pollution good; scores 20-50% = fair and scores <20%= No enough knowledge) Environment Pollution pollution showed that majority of the respondents have no enough knowledge, Good (>50%) 18 18 21 32 Fair (20-50%) 40 24 38 45 particularly majority of the respondents (58%) lacked the minimum No Enough Knowledge 42 58 41 23 knowledge about air pollution (Figure 4). Respondents have better knowledge about soil/land pollution (32% good, 45% fair and 23% no Figure 4: Percentage public awareness to the different types of pollution.

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• Dust and filthy dirt: Strong wind and storm are spreading dust and filth from the open dumps of solid waste to adjacent areas. Flies, Rats and other Vermin: Open dumps everywhere of communal solid waste are providing attractive habitat to flies, rats and other vermin. • Toxic gases: Toxic gases are continuously exposed to the atmosphere. • Health and sanitation: Open dumps of solid waste are a serious threat to human health and sanitation Conclusion • Majority of the solid waste scattered everywhere in the town is composed of dangerous materials (non-biodegradables and : Public concern to the increasing effects of solid waste effect. Figure 5 hazardous materials) that will stay hundreds of years in the environment. • Public awareness and concern to different aspects of the auses of soli aste urnin environmental degradation is very low. However, there is a hope 60 that people under lower age have better awareness and concern. 50 • Although the solid waste disposal system is inappropriate,

t s 30 majority of the people believe that the solid waste disposal n

e systems are not their major concern, particularly open air

20 n

o 10 burning is the most acceptable. s 0 References

R e Lack of Lack of Good Religion awareness opportunity Tradition 1. Sakurai S (2000) Municipal Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries Age <40 40 20 10 30 - Towards More Efficient International Cooperation. Waste Manag Res 11: Age >40 10 5 35 50 142–151. 2. World Bank Group (2018) Ethiopia Urbanization Review: Urban Institutions for Figure 6: Causes of solid waste burning. a Middle-Income Ethiopia. 3. Cochran G (1977) Sampling Techniques (3rd edn.). Wiley Series, New York, Serious environmental issues in the study area due to open USA. dumping 4. Gardner JM (2001) Mud Volcanoes Revealed and Sampled on the Western Improper solid waste disposal is creating serious negative impacts Moroccan Continental Margin. Geophysical Research Letters 28: 339-342. on environment in Bule Hora Town. The most observable environmental 5. Ejaz N, Akhtar N, Nisar H, Naeem UA (2010) Environmental Impacts of impacts include the following. Improper Solid Waste Management in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Rawalpindi City. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, WIT • Total loss of aesthetics: It is possible to see solid wastes including Press. papers, chat leaves, packing materials, old wears, leftover foods, 6. Government of Canada (2015) Open Burning of Garbage: Health and festal and other plastic materials scattered everywhere on the Environmental Risks. surface and partly buried in the dusty soil. This condition makes 7. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (2013) Health and the environment very repellant and offensive. Environmental Effects of Open Burning. • Sewerage system closure: Sewerage systems are blocked by solid 8. Zhu B, Pennack JA, McQuilton P, Forero MG, Mizuguchi K, et al. (2008) Drosophila Neurotrophins Reveal a Common Mechanism for Nervous System wastes and hence, surface run off very common during rainy Formation. PLoS Biol 6: e284. months and this in turn makes the environment very muddy and 9. Nigatu R, Rajan DS, Bizunesh BS (2011) Challenges and Opportunities in appalling. Municipal Solid Waste Management: The Case of Addis Ababa City, Central Ethiopia. J Hum Ecol 33: 179-190.

Int J Waste Resour, an open access journal ISSN: 2252-5211 Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000324